Lake Highlands residents really do not want a big box grocer - Tom Thumb or Kroger - being built in the Lake Highlands Town Center. They have created a petition that can be found in several local stores that call for a Trader Joe's to be the anchor grocer of the new town center instead. There is also a Facebook group supporting the cause.

Early this week, the Dallas City Council approved a plan to funnel $13 million more into getting the town center back on track. This is on top of the original $27 million that was already allocated to the project in the first place.

However, while residents were happy that the town center was getting more money to be completed, they were concerned about a big box grocer - namely Tom Thumb - settling in a monopolizing the area. They wanted to place a size limit on the new grocery store but the city council decided not to address that issue during their meeting.

In the Lake Highlands LinkedIn page, one of the members, Ted Hill, said, "The new BIG thing in LH [Lake Highlands] is the push to get Trader Joe's landed here. And that could be an anchor that could re-design the scope of living for all of us."

The goal of the residents is the gather 10,000 signatures to present to Trader Joe's. Scott Wynne, the president of the Lake Highlands Area Improvement Association said, "We believe Trader Joe's would be a great addition to the LHTC and would help kick off construction of this wonderful project, so we want to show TJ's how much the Lake Highlands community wants them here and will wholeheartedly support their business."

The local stores that have the petition are: Atomic Pic, Highlands Cafe, LA Fitness, LH Media Center, Picasso's, T. Hee Greetings & Gifts, Starbucks and The Store.